[wplug] is there a market for linux in the US?

[Petrucci, Joseph]

There is a slump in the job market right now for IT in general, but lately I have noticed an increase in the number of head-hunters who call me for Linux positions. Granted most of them are for companies outside the Pittsburgh area. 

I am starting to see a wider acceptance of Linux in Government & Telcomm. I am currently working 2 seperate opensource projects for Verizon (I know some of you consider them the Devil but they pay the bills). 

Around here I am seeing AK Steel has a need for Linux Admins. 

I read a statistic once in the introduction of a UNIX internals book "Inside the Magic Garden" I think was the title. is stated that in 1984, the year I graduated College, there were less than 3000 Production UNIX machines running in the world. I was amazed by that because at the time I had  that many UNIX machines under my team at Bell Atlantic less than 20 years later(1999). I am starting to see the same growth in the Linux mnarket. and expect it to keep growing. The economy is doing its best to slow the growth but I doubt it will Hurt Linux in the long run.

-----Original Message-----
From: wplug-bounces+joseph.petrucci=ddiworld.com at wplug.org
[mailto:wplug-bounces+joseph.petrucci=ddiworld.com at wplug.org]On Behalf
Of Jonathan Billings
Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2005 5:12 PM
To: General user list
Subject: Re: [wplug] is there a market for linux in the US?


On 5/11/05, Rob Prowel <tempest766 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> I guess to be more susinct: can an old time unix geek
> find programming/analysis work with linux or to find a
> real job do we HAVE to sell our souls and jump on the
> M$ bandwagon?

I detect a hint of bitterness here.  Have you spent much time looking
for jobs in unix/linux?  Do you see a lack of jobs for unix/linux
experts while seeing many jobs for experts for microsoft?  There has
been a bit of a job slump in the tech area lately, so it could be that
you're just seeing an overall trend.

> What do employers consider real linux experience:
> knowledge of the OS core and the ability to make GNU
> open source porjects work together, or business
> experience and (dread the thought...CERTIFICATION) in
> some particular vendors distribution with a gui
> attached?

It really depends on who you're talking to.  Often HR folks will go
all googly-eyed at certifications and Official Stamps Of Approval
(tm), while ignoring the fact that you are the maintainer of an
important open source project in your free time.  On the other hand,
experts in the field sometimes are wary of random certifications, and
will often value first-hand experience.  I know I've participated in
interviews with some people who, on paper, looked really good, but as
soon as they came in and started talking I couldn't tell if this
person had even used Linux.

I think if you are looking for a programming job, getting involved in
an open source project can only improve your resume.
-- 
  Jonathan Billings
jsbillings at gmail.com

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